Local Democracy needs you

Published	19 March 2008

Local people are being given the opportunity to have their say on improving local services and reviving communities today as Hazel Blears calls for contributions to the new Empowerment White Paper, launching an online public discussion forum.

The best way to improve local services and promote change is to listen to the people who use them every day and know them best, and Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Hazel Blears is asking people to give their opinions by email, letter, or by contributing to an online discussion forum.

The White Paper, due out in the summer, will outline Whitehall's ambition to give communities a stronger voice in local decision making and the delivery of local services, and communities are being asked to contribute their opinions on how government can change for the better.

Blears has launched the introductory document Unlocking the talent of our communities outlining the ways local people can have their say on four key issues:

how to improve deprived areas through regeneration and promoting work and enterprise
how to encourage active citizenship and revive civic society and local democracy
improving local public services
strengthening local accountability.

Launching the document Hazel Blears said:

"There are so many lessons to be learned from the views and opinions of British communities, on issues as far reaching as climate change and childhood obesity. That is why I want to hear from the Great British public about what we can do, and what they can do, to reinvigorate the grass roots of local democracy, to encourage active citizenship, and to enable people to connect with their local leaders.

"I want to see people getting out there, getting involved, changing the things that matter to them and having their opinions heard, and I look forward to hearing thoughts on how we do that."

People can have their say by :

emailing unlockingtalent@communities.gsi.gov.uk
taking part in an online discussion forum, running until 10 April at www.haveyoursay.communities.gov.uk/forums/
writing to the Community Empowerment White Paper Unit, Communities and Local Government, Zone 5/C6 Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU.

A hard copy of the Unlocking talent document can also be requested from the address above.